In many countries, millions of people are active in many areas of society. That is important work. How is that true in the church of Jesus Christ? How are the volunteers who are committed to their work, treated? Do they receive care, attention, and the necessary components available to them? Or is it assumed that they automatically know their place and carry out their task? Is it known whether they will function well at the right place?

Missing Links⤒🔗

Once we sat together with seven colleagues in a workshop where we dealt with the various tasks and duties of a minister. All kinds of questions had to be answered: how much time we spend on making a sermon, preparations for the catechism classes, the work of visiting the members in the congregation, preparations for council and consistory meetings, etc. The final evaluation of this discussion was remarkable. As pastors we had enough time for many different things. But everyone lacked one particular thing in our work. Almost no one had enough time to equip and to guide the members of our church for their task in the office of all believers. That made us think…

Biblical Concepts←⤒🔗

If you look for the words “to equip” in the Bible, you will find only one result. But it is a remarkable text! That text makes it clear that to equip the members in the congregation is typically the work of the office-bearers! Ephesians 4:12 is about the God given task of the office-bearers to equip the saints for service, for the upbuilding of the body of Christ. That task is mentioned again in verse 16: the office holders are, as it were, the muscles and tendons in the human body. They are the ones ensuring that the church members receive the necessary spiritual food so that together they form an elaborate whole. So their calling is to equip the members of the church in such a way so that the congregation, as a whole, will function well as the body of Christ. The Greek words for “to equip” indicate something that enables someone to do what may be expected of him. For example, as a medical term, it can be used for splinting a leg.

The words “to equip” therefore mainly refers to any form of duty that will serve the proper functioning of the members of the congregation. Office bearers have the duty to instruct and equip every member of the congregation in their task to respond to the various needs in the congregation using their God‑given gifts and talents. Office bearers must, therefore, ensure that the members of the congregation function well in these areas.

We as office-bearers need to honestly ask ourselves whether we are equipping our church members in that way, so that they also actually do it. Do we really take the time for it? It is remarkable how much time Jesus himself invested in equipping his disciples. Nothing is too much for him to help his disciples, to pray for them, to teach them, and to encourage them.

Practical Possibilities←⤒🔗

I would like to present several options by paying attention to the concept of equipping the congregation, based on experiences in our congregation, where we, through trial and error, encourage each other to use our gifts for the upbuilding of the church. First, an explanation is needed as to what the Bible says about the gifts that God has given to his congregation. Often enough, church members do not know what kind of gifts they have. In that case, someone can be assigned to a certain task, which does not suit him or her. That is why we started to explain at the pre‑confession catechism classes about the different kinds of gifts that each member has. Pre‑confession catechists fill out a questionnaire to — prayerfully — find out where their gifts lie and follow a short “internship” in the congregation. We try to give them a task as soon as possible after they have professed their faith before God and the congregation. We also pay attention to new members of the congregation. In an introductory course they are taught what the Bible says about the different gifts and the purposes of God for every member of the church. We consider offering another short course to go into more detail about what the Bible says about the gifts each one has. There we would like to help the new church members to take their place in the church by having personal conversations with them.

We see a second possibility in guiding the members of the congregation in their task. We suggest having a monthly meeting with the Bible study leaders. There is a lot of good material available on teaching biblical subjects and practical application. An elder and a pastor should be involved in these meetings. Good books are published and available for equipping Bible study leaders, also for youth leaders in the congregation. Last year we made a small start with this. That ties in with what we read in 2 Timothy 2:2: “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” By equipping group leaders and youth leaders, they can then equip their group members and the youth. Finally, as a consistory, we try to maintain regular contact with these groups.

Third, it is important to think of gift‑oriented and not task‑oriented activities. We often fall into that trap. Naturally, there are things in the church that just need to be done. But the more we pay attention to someone’s gifts, the better that person functions. When we recently made use of another church building, people were involved to get all the equipment and chairs ready for the church services, but not every church member was involved in this task. We made three teams with team leaders, technicians, interior workers, and three ordinary workers. That is their contribution to being active members of the church. The task of the church council is to have the members of the congregation function according to their gifts. Annually, in our council meetings, we deal with all the vacancies and filling these vacancies with capable people. We do so with a prayer for God’s guidance. Although it does not always go the way we want, we do see an increase in the willingness to do something for the church and we see God’s blessing on the work in the congregation.

Attention and Care←⤒🔗

Not long ago a beautiful booklet was published about volunteering: Pro deo (“For God” edited by G.J. Buijs and T.J. v.d. Ploeg). I would like to draw your attention to the final chapter about volunteers in the church. As a church council, it is worth it to take the tips in this chapter to heart.

In Paul’s epistles (2 Tim. 1:3; 1:6-8; Titus 2:1; 3:8), you can read about the care for those who work hard in the church. The apostle encourages his co‑workers and prays for them.

Sometimes members of the congregation take on a certain task for years without anyone asking them, praying for them, or encouraging them. Help, advice, and commendation for this voluntary work is almost never forthcoming. As an office-bearer you must ensure that something is done about this. For several years, the church council has set aside a certain amount of money on our church budget to instruct and equip our members. It is an incentive for church members to attend a conference or follow a course. In addition, a compliment here and there would certainly be appropriate. At the start of the season, the group coordinator gives all Bible study leaders a small present. It is good to pay attention to what the church members are doing.

Even more important is prayer and care for all the people who are committed to doing this work. It may especially be expected of the office-bearers to pray for all those who are involved in the upbuilding of the congregation. At the end of each church council meeting, we discuss for whom we will pray in the closing prayer.

Furthermore, the church council can provide support through instruction, but also through their involvement in a commission. Of course, a concrete job description is important. Members in the congregation often do not know what is expected of them. For example, every year it is important to check up on how someone is doing in his particular place in the church. Unfortunately, there is little study material available for something like this. Years ago, at a conference, I came across a beautiful book called: Handbuch ftir Leitungsaufgaben in Gemeinde und Beruf (translated: “Handbook for management duties for the office-bearer and congregation”) in which guidelines are given for the office-bearers to discuss the members’ tasks with them and to pray with them.

In any case, the members of the congregation are entrusted to the care of the office-bearers. It is their duty to equip the saints for service, and to build up the body of Christ!

Conclusion←⤒🔗

Do you know the story of the blacksmith who drove the nail in at the wrong place on the horse’s hoof? Because the nail was not in the right spot, the horse’s hoof was ruined. Because the hoof was ruined, the horse became lame. Because the horse became lame, the general could not lead his army. Because the general could not lead his army, victory failed. Because victory failed, the country collapsed. That one nail did it. The work of a simple blacksmith proves to be extremely important. It can even be very decisive. Every member of the church is important within the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12). When the members in the congregation function well among each other, the congregation will grow and flourish. To God be the praise and honour!